Elon Musk’s Starlink Receives Licence to Launch Satellite Internet Services in India

Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has been granted a crucial licence by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), paving the way for its commercial rollout in the country. The approval, confirmed by DoT sources, positions Starlink to enter the Indian market, targeting nearly 900 million internet users.

Starlink becomes the third company to receive this licence, following OneWeb and Reliance Jio. The company had been awaiting regulatory clearance since 2022, with delays attributed to national security concerns. With this development, Starlink is expected to receive trial spectrum within 15–20 days of application, a major step toward full-scale operations.

The company had earlier signed strategic agreements with Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, signaling its readiness to begin services rapidly. Though neither Starlink nor the DoT has issued an official public statement yet, the licence approval is seen as a green light for operations.

The Indian government has shown support for satellite internet to improve connectivity in remote areas and during natural disasters when traditional networks fail. Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently emphasized the need for such technology in underserved regions.

Starlink’s internet plans are expected to be competitively priced, potentially starting at $10 (₹850) per month, making them among the most affordable globally. This pricing strategy is aimed at attracting a large customer base, with a reported target of 10 million users in India.